Clara Caufield. Photo from Native News Project / University of Montana School of Journalism

How do you flunk first grade?
By Clara Caufield
A Cheyenne Voice
www.nsweekly.com

I have a delightful new dancing friend – a Mexican, Matt, also called “Matayo” in Spanish and I write about him, with permission because his life experience is similar to many Native Americans and other minorities of our generation.

Close in age to me (old as dirt), he is still extremely handsome, slim, full of vigor, able to “cut the rug”, sporting a full classy mustache, donning big cowboy hat (sombrero), colorful shirts, cowboy boots, etc. Should they cast a colorful Poncho Villa in a movie, he would be good choice. But, he is one of dark skinned angry ones in America.

”Si, Senora, maybe you should tell some of what I have gone through,” he agreed. People from Mexico generally have a high regard for the freedom of press, as that liberty is often abused in their homeland.

“You are very brave to write, Senora,” he says.

As a child, first going to school, he was disparaged and demeaned, a message falling deep into his heart. As he says, he is “chocolate” (one of the dark skinned ones) with full affinity for the other liked ones, especially the “Indios” in Montana and Wyoming, many of whom he calls brothers.

“The teachers told me I was ugly and stupid and perhaps they were right,” he recently said.

Such is the power of influential ones upon young minds, instilling lasting impressions.

Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: How do you flunk first grade?

(Clara Caufield can be reached at a cheyennevoice@gmail.com)

Copyright permission Native Sun News